Taps and Cinematic Experiences

Taps = Faucets.

Apparently in Scotland they have the best cold water in the world. So they try to keep the hot and cold water separated in the water lines. Because when you run hot water in a line it picks up some of the metal from the tap. I don't think they have thought that the hot and cold water mixes when it goes down the drain.

Here's the problem with that.

Washing your hands

Here is the scenario as it actually happens. You put soap on your hands and turn on the hot water and you have a very limited time to get the soap off because the water gets hot quicker than a dog would sit for a biscuit. So your hands are underneath very frigid water because it is very cold outside, you understand. So when the water starts to get warm it's like a warning. This mean you better finish up quick because it goes from freezing cold to "fantastically hot." This isn't just regular hot. This is I'm trying to get a stain out of a hardwood floor hot. So you draw your hands away very quickly. If you are lucky you have finished getting the soap off your hands. If not, you have two options. Go for the cold water tap and freeze your hands again. Or endure the hot water for a wee bit longer which is almost a non-option. Because the water is not going to cool down for at least a half-hour. So you freeze your hands only to realise that they only way to dry them is to put them under a cool air dryer because Britain thinks the world is going to melt away if we don't save it.

On to the cinema.

I finally got my passport application sent off today. YAY!!! But I traveled numerous times to the post office to get it done. I took it originally and my photos weren't there, so I had to take a day to go get those done. I went back today and the date was wrong on one of the photos. It started raining on my way back, so I put on my rain coat to take back the corrected photo only to be told that I don't have my American passport with me. I had to trudge back home. It rained harder. I told myself if anything else was wrong, I was going to give up on this country. Encouraged by David's property management staff. I went back out into the cold and the wet. (I thought it was April) It rained even more on the way there as my spirits were dampened. I arrived to a smiling post office person face who said that it looked like I had everything I needed. Just then the sun came out. I wished the man a good evening and walked out into the sunshine and shed my jacket with a grin of accomplishment. Sun washed over me as the rain had just done. I was dry and happy. I loved Scotland. So I planted this garden in memorial to the event. I just checked it and it sprang up quite quickly. I'm rather impressed, you?

So I think I confirmed my ticket back home for the 27th of May, but to tell you the truth, I really don't want to come home. Sure I miss people and I will quote a recent question I was asked.

"If you could be doing anything, what would it be"
"What I would do:
I would be sitting with my buddy Cliff in my old apartment in Florida. It would be late evening with the sun still tickling the tips of the apartments with colors spread all over the clouds and a nice cool breeze coming in through the apartment windows. It would be heaven. I feel high just thinking about it. I know it's not something crazy great, but it's what I want right now. Man, I miss Florida. " I hope you're out there Cliff.

I was actually told today that the church here would love for me to stay. This was far from a job offer, but it was really encouraging to hear that I must be doing something good, and that I must be useful in some sense. Or maybe it's my sense of humour. So I would love to stay, but it seems like I must go home right now. phooey. So that's me for the time being. I'm expecting some great adventures coming up. God sure is great. He's shown himself so much while I've been here. People said Scotland was dead.

No, it's just sleeping.

Cheers

Ian

p.s. Happy Birthday Jesse. (I don't think she reads this so someone tell her.)

Poor Little Doggy and Taps.

I'm sitting next to Jim, who is very sad and you can see why. Jock bloodied his ear and now we have to keep it in a plastic hoop. No good huh? We should make Jock wear it as well for what he did to Jim, but I don't think that he will enjoy that. So today, about today. Well we should probably start with yesterday first. And I only start with yesterday because it came first. Fair enough? I was a busy little bundle of baby burgundy bath towels yesterday. I was running to and fro to get things done for my internship.

I didn't have any actual meetings that I had to be at, but I still had plenty to do. I went by a second language school to offer my services. It was called Regent Language School. I met a nice bloke their named Rupert and between them and the people at BasilPaterson, I should be able to get some experience in a classroom setting as far as languages go. I'm excited about that.

Here is a little wee (redundant) trinket for you. Errands take all day here. I only had like 3 things to do all day long, but it took me all day because of trying to get places. I spent 1.5 hours walking and sometime on the bus as well. I got paid yesterday and had it deposited in the bank, which is exciting. I want to say thanks again to all who have been amazing enough to give to my work here. It really has been great and God is doing a lot here.

I do want to bring your attention to a small creature of certain wonder. I have seen this little dog a few times now and I always see people gawking over it and snapping photos. Even someone standing with the dog. I thought how odd, and chalked it up to European curiosity. There is a little gig near here that I like to hang out in during the day. So you can imagine my surprise when I am waiting patiently in Regent language school and I see a picture of this dog on the wall. I knew immediately that I must photograph it. I figured it must be special so I took the long hike out there to hang out in my spot and read my Bible and decided to take a shot of it. Still don't know what the big deal is. It's a cute dog, but still. It's not even that impressive of a statue. We may never know the mystery behind this little guy. He has a sign, but it makes no sense at all. You know, even there was an answer, sometimes enigmas are better and easier to wrap your head around.

Oh right, I promised you taps, but that will have to wait until after my meeting at Starbucks. Cheers


Ian